AI Simulation, ZIM vs NZ | Kiwis register second consecutive win on back of Daryl Mitchell fireworks

Yesterday at 8:22 PM

Daryl Mitchell is set to lead New Zealand to victory over Zimbabwe in their tr-series encounter at Harare Sports Club on July 18

As per Chat GPT, Zimbabwe will prove to be no match for high-flying New Zealand at the Harare Sports Club on July 18 in their tri-series encounter. In the simulation, the Kiwis set the hosts 177 to chase courtesy of Daryl Mitchell's 53 off 36, before restricting them 18 short of the target.

Pitch and Weather

Harare produced another dry and hard track with plenty in it for batters who got their eye in and managed to hit through the line but as the game wore on, spinners began to take grip of the game and dried out the scoring rates.

The weather was a typical Zimbabwean winter afternoon, with clear skies and low levels of humidity.

Toss

New Zealand won the toss and decided to bat first.

Lineups

ZIM:Brian Bennett, Wessly Madhavere, Clive Madande (wk), Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Tashinga Musekiwa, Tony Munyonga, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Trevor Gwandy, Blessing Muzarabani

NZ: Devon Conway, Tim Seifert (wk), Tim Robinson, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Hay, James Neesham, Bevon Jacobs, Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy

Match Report

New Zealand's innings began with another disappointment for star opener Devon Conway as the veteran mucked around for 10 deliveries before eventually holing out off a sharp Richard Ngarava bumper. The Zimbabwean quick then added Tim Robinson, fresh off a man-of-the-match knock against South Africa, with another short delivery to leave New Zealand 44/2 at the end of the powerplay. However, once the field spread, Tim Seifert took advantage of the spin bowling on offer to smack two gorgeous sixes to add to his four boundaries while Daryl Mitchell played second fiddle at the other end. The duo's stand was worth 62 in just 43 deliveries when skipper Sikandar Raza brought about the crucial breakthrough by dispatching Seifert for 42. Yet, it did little to break the Kiwis' momentum, as Daryl took charge thereafter to bring up a 33-ball half-century laced with three fours and as many maximums. Camoes from Bevon Jacobs (23 off 15) and James Neesham (18* off 10) further inflicted misery on the Chevrons as by the end they were left staring at a score of 176/6.

In response, the hosts showed signs of crumbling early when Mitchell Santner produced a beautiful flighted delivery to get the better of Wessly Madhavere. However, Clive Madande showed grit against some disciplined bowling while Brian Bennett went after the lot, racing past 20 with three boundaries and a maximum. The onslaught did not last long though as Santner scalped his second, with the score after the powerplay an iedentical 44/2. Skipper Raza kept the chase going with the occasional boundary while Madande continued to survive at the other end, the duo putting on a 46-run stand for the third wicket. Yet, the required run rate kept rising in the process and once Henry got rid of Madande, a tragic collapse followed. Ish Sodhi bamboozled both Ryan Burl and Tashinga Musekiwa with googlies before Matt Henry struck timber twice in one over. Raza showed some fight to score a consolatory 44 off 31 deliveries, only enough to take Zimbabwe to 159/9 and hand the Black Caps a resounding victory.

Player of the Match

Daryl Mitchell was the clear front-runner for the man of the match award as the only batter to surpass 50 runs before aiding his case with a brilliant catch in the deep.